Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Driver From Burning Car

Mar 1, 2018

SALEM, NH (WBZ-AM) – Divine intervention. That's how a Salem, New Hampshire firefighter explains being at the right place at the right time to help save the life of a woman involved in a fiery crash Tuesday evening.

Michael Galipeau usually takes a different route home from the Salem Fire Department's station 2 and can't say exactly why he decided to travel Route 111 following his day shift on Tuesday.

What he found was a three car accident with one vehicle engulfed in flames and bystanders struggling to free the driver.

The 8-year-year veteran jumped in cutting the seat belt that held the woman working with the others to remove her and triaged three injured drivers by the time the first ambulance arrived on scene.

Galipeau himself was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

For his part galipeau says it couldn't have been done by any one person and he was jsut a "piece of a puzzle."